Center for Law and Social Policy

Overview

Mission

Center for law and social policy (clasp) is a national, nonpartisan, anti-poverty nonprofit advancing policy solutions to improve the lives of people with low incomes. We develop practical yet visionary strategies for reducing poverty, promoting economic opportunity, and addressing institutional and racial barriers faced by people of color. With over 50 years' experience at the federal, state, and local levels, we're advancing a bold vision for the future rooted in economic security and racial equity.

What it reported doing in 2024

Economic justice requires a public benefits system that works both for anyone experiencing a financial emergency and also supports long-lasting economic security. That's why clasp advocates for federal and state policies that center racial equity, increase investment, prevent harmful cuts, and streamline access across public programs.we work to make public benefits like snap, wic, rental assistance, and medicaid more equitable and effective. At the same time, we call for policies like guaranteed income and an expanded child tax credit, which had an enormous impact on poverty in recent years.we envision a future where basic needs are abundantly met; everyone has the opportunities and resources to flourish; and a system of public benefits is accessible, equitable, reparative, responsive, easy to navigate, and co-created with directly impacted people.

Operating model

Revenue model
Donor-supported. 94% of the money available for current operations came from contributions and gifts.
Distribution model
Direct operator. The filing allocates 96% of reported program-service expenses outside its grant, affiliate-payment, and member-benefit lines. This expense classification does not rule out separately announced grant awards.

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
237000150
IRS 990 coverage
2015–2024
Forms available
Form 990 2024
Headquarters
Washington, DC, USA
Phone
2029068004
Rating
80
Verdict
STRONG
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Public Interest Law

The verdict

STRONG - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and the filed numbers largely add up. Expenses are high relative to revenue and reported officer compensation is a large share of total spending, which may reflect staffing concentration.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 71
  • Transparency & Controls: 82
  • Accountability: 100
  • Sustainability: 31
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 82.7%; rating input score 83
  • Program expense ratio: 74.4%; rating input score 74
  • Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 93.3%; rating input score 93; 17th percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: 4 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 67
    • Compensation committee: Missing
    • Independent consultant: Pass
    • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
    • Written employment contract: Missing
    • Compensation survey or study: Pass
    • Board or committee approval: Pass
  • Foreign activity oversight: Limited
  • Grant itemization coverage: 89.6%; rating input score 90; 26th percentile among comparable filings
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
  • Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Pass
    • Document-retention policy: Pass
    • CEO compensation review process: Pass
    • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Pass
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: -10.6%; rating input score 13; 13th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.14; rating input score 64; 64th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.25; rating input score 39; 39th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 21.3%; rating input score 11; 11th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 3.3% per year; rating input score 100; 29th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 5.5% per year; rating input score 100; 45th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 14.1% per year; rating input score 100; 72nd percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 82.7% of revenue deployed · 74.4% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 19 of 19 board members independent · 9 of 9 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 4 filed program accomplishments · $7.5M in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $232K · 31 people listed · 4 of 6 pay-setting controls reported
  • Consistency: 33 of 34 current checks pass · 1 finding to review
  • Schedules: 7 filed schedules · includes major donors, grants, and executive pay
  • Filing history: 10 annual filings from 2015 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 19 filed money-flow records
  • Related organizations: 7 filed related-organization links
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.

Leadership & pay

31 people listed

Highest reported compensation

  • BARBARA SEMEDO (DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIR., COMMUNICATIONS): $231,755 total reported compensation
  • DANA BAILEY (CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER): $228,625 total reported compensation
  • EDDIE MARTIN JR (DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF RACIAL EQUITY): $192,525 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: FY2024.